Chapter 89: Burning The Federation’s Funds
“Honor CBE? When I was in Hong Kong, the Governor mentioned it to me.” Lin Ran asked subconsciously.
Kennedy laughed: “No, it’s KBE.
Originally it was going to be CBE for you, but because of your outstanding contribution, Buckingham Palace plans to raise it to KBE, and additionally Buckingham Palace will also grant you a lifetime baron’s title.
If you become a citizen of England, Ireland, or the British Commonwealth, you will automatically gain a lifetime seat in the House of Lords.”
Lifetime titles granted to foreigners are rare in similar cases, but not nonexistent.
England passed the Life Peerages Act in 1958, which allows the Queen to grant anyone a lifetime title through letters patent.
However, limited to baron or baroness.
Additionally, after obtaining the title, one automatically gains a seat in the House of Lords.
But because serving in the House of Lords requires swearing allegiance to the Queen, this is according to the Parliamentary Oaths Act of 1866. And American citizens swearing allegiance to the British Queen would conflict with American law, because the American constitution prohibits dual allegiance.
So theoretically, he can only obtain the title, but cannot become a congressman.
“Then forget it, I already have enough work now, if you make me run between London and Washington, I’d need superpowers.” Lin Ran politely declined.
Before the London trip, there was a special hearing in Washington D.C. at the Dirksen Senate Office Building, which had been built just a few years earlier, on the White House’s proposed budget increase for NASA, and because it related to the space race with the Soviet Union, a particularly large number of congressmen came.
Lin Ran and James Webber arrived early at the meeting room to prepare. Lin Ran looked at the huge meeting room and the meeting table full of nameplates, and exclaimed:
“Looking at this setup, congressmen from both the Senate and House of Representatives will come?
Is there a need for such a big show?”
James Webber started out in Washington as an assistant to a senior congressman, and he knew the rules of Washington inside out:
“Generally speaking, NASA’s budget is decided by the annual federal budget. The president submits a budget request, Congress reviews and passes legislation, and that’s it.
NASA’s budget has nearly doubled compared to 1960, and we need to increase it substantially next year, so with such a large increase, we need to discuss it in advance at the hearing with the congressmen of the Appropriations Committee.
Additionally, actually only the members of the subcommittee responsible for science and related institutions need to participate, but because of the successful launch of Pioneer, the congressmen all want to know what we will do next year and in the future.”
NASA’s budget changes in the 1960s:
“It looks like there are so many people, but in reality we only need to convince a few key figures among them.
The most important is Clarence Cannon. If he agrees, our budget increase plan is half successful.”
Clarence Cannon, senator from Missouri, current chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, has worked in the Appropriations Committee for as long as 19 years, and has been a congressman for nearly 40 years.
One of the old timers among the old timers.
Served as chairman of the Appropriations Committee from 1941 to 1947, 1949 to 1953, and 1955 to 1964 respectively.
“He’s from the Donkey Party, he won’t make things difficult for us.” After James Webber added that, he hesitated: “With such a large increase, I’m not sure if he really won’t make things difficult for us.”
The bronze chandelier on the ceiling of the Dirksen Senate S-116 hearing room displayed a unique style, as the congressmen in suits took their seats one after another.
“.Under the leadership of this White House, NASA has already achieved a thorough change. We accomplished the goal of probe moon landing in just three months, and at the same time brought back precious photos of the moon’s sky for humanity.
The White House has full confidence that Americans will be the first to land on the moon, forever leaving Soviet people behind.
That’s right, with Randolph, I am very confident. He solved Fermat’s Conjecture that no one had solved for centuries, is the best mathematician of our time, and also”
Lin Ran didn’t have much mind to listen to Kennedy’s speech, because the information density was too low, no different from nonsense.
His attention was entirely on the densely packed congressmen present.
He discovered that whether congressmen, NASA executives, or White House bureaucrats, damn, there wasn’t a single person of yellow race besides himself.
Lin Ran couldn’t help but complain inwardly: with this, blacks are protesting, but this group of Americans’ Asians don’t protest at all, don’t unite to fight for their rights. Even sixty years later, Congress only has more black figures.
Lin Ran couldn’t understand, and couldn’t accept it.
After Kennedy finished speaking, the applause below was divided into two sides: thunderous applause from the Donkey Party side, and sparse polite applause from the Elephant Party side.
“Respected congressmen.” Lin Ran walked to the podium, his voice loud and carrying a hint of teasing, “First, I must thank President Kennedy for his generous remarks just now. He mentioned that I solved Fermat’s Last Theorem, which makes me nostalgic for my days at the University of Göttingen. Back then, I scribbled on the blackboard every day trying to prove this theorem, and my mentor passed by and suddenly said: ‘Lin, you know? Fermat might have just said it casually, but you actually took it seriously.'”
A burst of light laughter came from below the stage, and Lin Ran knew his opening had worked.
He struck while the iron was hot and continued: “However, today we’re not talking mathematics, but NASA’s future. Everyone, NASA’s budget has risen faster than my weight these past two years.
Of course, I must clarify, we won’t spend the money on hot dogs and beer, at least I won’t.”
At these words, the Elephant Party congressmen laughed especially loudly, while the Donkey Party side was slightly embarrassed.
“Back to the point.” Lin Ran cleared his throat, his tone becoming serious, “Our number one goal is manned moon landing. That’s right, you heard correctly, we want Americans to be the first to step on the moon, and ensure that Soviet people can only sit in front of the television, biting bread and staring helplessly.”
He paused, scanned the room, the corners of his mouth slightly upturned, “Imagine, when our astronaut plants the Stars and Stripes on the moon, global audiences all staring at the screen. That’s not ordinary promotion—this is shouting to the world: ‘Hey, America is the boss of space exploration!'”
The congressmen nodded one after another, interest gleaming in their eyes. Lin Ran knew this group of politicians loved hearing most about “leading” and “face”.
The things in the brains of congressmen 60 years ago were no different from those 60 years later, or even less.
“Of course, to take this ‘one giant leap’, we must first take several small steps,” he continued, “For example, don’t let the astronaut get lost on the moon, or forget to bring the national flag—that would be embarrassing.” Another burst of laughter from below the stage, and Lin Ran took the opportunity to add, “But rest assured, our team is very reliable and will absolutely not let such a blunder happen.”
